Jul 28, 2015 |
A note from The Daily Downward Dog: This post originally ran on July 17, 2012. As I prepare for the Top Thrill Yoga Retreat at The Hotel Breakers this August 28-30, I pulled this out of the archives for inspiration and thought you might like to read it too!
I talk a lot in my yoga classes about taking your yoga off the mat, and I got to practice what I preach recently when I agreed to take my 12-year old niece to Cedar Point (one of the best amusement parks in the world, which just so happens to be in my backyard).
With over 15 roller coasters, Cedar Point is known for its thrill rides, and of course my niece wanted to ride the scariest one in the park – Top Thrill Dragster! I didn’t know this before, but Cedar Point has a rating system for its rides, and Top Thrill’s rating is “Aggressive Thrill 5” (the scariest on a scale of 1 to 5). Cedar Point is not messing around when they call this ride aggressive; this coaster simulates what it’s like to be in a race car as it launches you from zero to 120 MPH in less than 4 seconds, then shoots you up 420 feet into the air, then straight down a twisty slope and back to the finish line. Total ride time – 17 seconds, but each one of those seconds is power packed with pure adrenaline.
As we were getting strapped into the ride, I looked over at my niece and noticed her angst level had reached an all-time high, and I have to admit I was freaking out a little bit too. My natural yoga instinct kicked into gear, and I started to direct my niece and I through some deep pranayama breathing. After our fifth deep round of inhaling and exhaling, a dramatic change in our anxiety level had occurred. I can’t tell you that I was totally blown away by this transformation because I know the power of my breath; instead, I was comforted by the fact that our Top Thrill breathing exercise had effortlessly brought us so much peace and calm just seconds before the madness ensued.
Breathe in; breathe out – what a powerful tool we have the ability to harness both on and off our yoga mats.
Right before the ride took off, I looked at my niece and said, “Frannie, make sure you keep your eyes open so you can be fully present and enjoy each and every moment of this ride.” The reason I told her to do this is that the very first time I rode Top Thrill Dragster, I closed my eyes, and let me just tell you, when you close your eyes, this ride is a real drag, not a thrill at all. It’s only 17 seconds, and in those 17 seconds you can miss a whole lot.
We both kept our eyes wide open and had the ride of our life! I got to see the panoramic views of the park and Lake Erie as we crested the top of this 42-story rollercoaster. And I got to see my niece’s ecstatic, smiling face as we cruised into the landing platform high-fiving each other.
I ask my yoga students to close their eyes quite often in class, but it’s not because I want them to miss the ride. Rather, I want them to go inside and experience what is really happening inside their body and their breath. I want them to let go of the chatter in their minds, even if it’s just for a short while during class. Most classes I teach are only 60 minutes, and in those 60 minutes you can miss out on a lot if you don’t let go. I guess if you think about it, letting your mind wander in a yoga class is the equivalent of closing your eyes on Top Thrill Dragster: you’re going to miss all the fun. When you can truly “open your eyes” in yoga class and go within, that is when your yoga practice really begins to take off, when your yoga practice becomes a thrill.
As we walked off the ride, super charged with adrenaline, my niece turned to me and said, “Aunt Maria, that was so much fun I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I was feeling pure joy.” Another priceless moment of bliss courtesy of Cedar Point.
That same joy can be had each and every time you come to your yoga mat if you just let go and allow yourself to be fully present in the moment. Stop clenching the handlebars, let go of the fear, relax, tap into that powerful pranayama breathing, and just go with the flow.
Your breath can be such a powerful thing. I’ve used it in the dentist chair, the boardroom, and now I can add Top Thrill Dragster to my list of cool breathing experiences. Next time you’re in a stressful situation, instead of running away from it, give that pranayama breathing a whirl and let yourself go from stressed out to blissed out in less than 4 seconds.
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Jan 21, 2015 |
Last month, a lovely young woman named Erin showed up for one of my classes at Yoga Bliss Akron. She came up to introduce herself since she was new to the yoga studio, and I was immediately impressed by this really incredible energy about her. She proceeded to tell me that she had just won a national contest sponsored by Robek’s, which involved her taking a photo of herself showing how she stays healthy. She took a picture of herself in a yoga pose holding one of their smoothies, posted it to Instagram with the hashtag #GetHealthyWithRobeks, and ended up winning the contest.
That in itself is pretty remarkable since this was a national contest with hundreds of entries. But, what is even more remarkable is that the prize she won was her choice of a year-long membership to the fitness facility of her choice, and she chose a year-long unlimited yoga pass to Yoga Bliss!
Erin was already active with ballet dancing and had always wanted to start a yoga practice, so she was really excited about winning (understandably so) and starting her year-long yoga journey. The year started out with a lot of zeal. I saw Erin one evening at the studio, and she had just attended her fourth yoga class for the day – and that my friends is the beauty of having an unlimited yoga pass, you can take four classes in one day if you want!
Maria, Erin, and her friend Natalie at Yoga Bliss Akron.
Now I’ve been thinking a lot about Erin and the journey she is going to have this year on her yoga mat. I encouraged her to journal about the experience, and I also wrote down a few hopes that I have for her, which I shared in a recent class she attended. These hopes were not just for Erin; they were for all of my students because they are applicable no matter how many times you have stepped on your yoga mat.
Have Fun
Yes, it is important to be safe and in alignment in yoga asanas, but it’s also important to have fun on your yoga mat. It is OK to laugh, dance, sway your hips in the air in downward facing dog, and show off your jazz hands from time to time. Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras talks about friendliness, compassion, gladness, and joy when practicing yoga. Without these, we are not experiencing the true yoga of Patanjali. So, each time you come to your yoga mat, I hope that you seek joy, be friendly and compassionate with those you practice with, and don’t be afraid to bust out a few dance moves on your yoga mat.
Close Your Eyes
I know this is hard to do, especially when new to yoga, but I hope that you are able to find a few spaces during your yoga practice when you can close your eyes. I say this not so you can’t see, but rather so you can truly see within. When you close the eyes, you can focus on your breath, your body, and your divine. It is how I block out my ego – not looking around, not comparing, not judging – and when I can do this, I become fully present. Try it out in short spurts for a while, and eventually you will be able to do it more throughout the class. When you can block out the ego mind, let it all go, release the struggle, and truly relax, you become truly present in your body, and that is when the good stuff starts to happen. This is when your practice really starts to blossom!
Always Be a Beginner
No matter how long you practice yoga, there are always new things to learn. B.K.S. Iyengar said that once you think you have mastered a pose that is when you stop practicing yoga. I hope that as you continue on your yoga journey you always stay full of wonder, willing to learn and grow. Come to your yoga mat each time thinking, “What am I going to discover today?”
No Worries When You Don’t Make It to the Mat
I told Erin that there are going to be times in this next year when she doesn’t make it to the mat when she plans to. We all get busy. Life happens, but I stressed that she should not beat herself up when something holds her up from attending yoga class. Even on the busiest of days, you can always find a way to practice yoga. Perhaps take a few moments to sit, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. Or, simply do a kind deed for someone. Your yoga mat will always be there for you when you are ready to come back!
Practice Makes Perfect
I see this a lot with new students: a drive to perfect the yoga asanas and a lot of judgment about their lack of strength and flexibility. I always remind them that they have a lifetime to refine the poses and that they should enjoy the journey. Yes, we are all inherently driven to achieve perfection, and it is that drive that inspires us to improve. My hope, however, is that you can let go of the struggle and instead enjoy the practice. I love this quote from B.K.S. Iyengar: “Let the goal be to reach perfection, but to be content with a little progress toward perfection every day.”
And this one too! “Success will come to the person who practices.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
Live Your Yoga off the Mat
We learn a lot on our yoga mats, like the power of our breath, patience, the ability to offer compassion to ourselves and others, and truth. My hope for Erin is that at some point this year when she is off her mat that she has an aha moment, realizing that an action she has just taken was driven by something she learned on her yoga mat. Perhaps she is more patient with her parents, is more present with her friends and teachers, or uses her breathing to help her through a stressful situation. Yoga on the mat is awesome, but when you start living it off the mat, your life just gets sweeter.
The One Yoga Asana I Hope You Master
If you only focus on one yoga pose this year, try focusing on savasana. I know a lot of you are probably thinking, well how hard could that be? Savasana, if done properly, is by far one of the most challenging yoga poses because it requires you to lie still yet be fully present. When you can do this, completely let go and surrender to savasana, that is when the magic of your yoga practice will happen. Do yourself a favor this year and really focus on mastering savasana. Let all the goodness of the time spent on your mat soak into every cell of your body.
Erin, congratulations on your contest win, on your year of unlimited yoga, and on this fantastic yoga journey you are about to embark on! I am looking forward to watching it unfold.
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Dec 13, 2014 |
I’m all for shopping local, but how about putting a different spin on that and shopping goddess! Yeah, support a business that is owned and operated by a goddess, or a product that has been created by a goddess. I count myself blessed to know and work with so many incredible women,so here for your holiday gift shopping pleasure I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite yoga products produced by strong, smart, and talented yogini goddesses!
A Yoga DVD that Transports You to a
Bright Summer Day of Yoga in the Park.
Quite a few people have asked me if I have a yoga DVD that I sell. Not yet, but until I do, I highly recommend Freedom Yoga in Millenium Park with Alie McManus, an international yoga teacher who shares my enthusiasm and love of teaching outdoors. Alie teaches yoga in Chicago and during the summer she offers awesome yoga classes in Millenium Park. Last year she recorded three full (50-minute) classes that she taught there and you can just feel the sun shining down on you as you flow through sun salutations listening to her joyful cues.
If you are missing yoga on the beach, this DVD is for you. You can tell Alie is having fun leading the classes and her energy is contagious. If you are new to yoga she provides excellent instructions and these classes are accessible to all levels.
I first met Alie in Yellow Springs when I went there to study with Erich Schiffmann, who she has studied with extensively. I was thrilled when our paths crossed recently when we both attended a yoga class taught by Tao Porchon Lynch in Chicago. Next time you are in Chicago, check out a class with her at either Yogaview or Moksha.
Alie and Maria at Yogaview in Chicago
Give yourself the gift of yoga with an extra dosh of sunshine delivered by a beautiful goddess. You can purchase Alie’s DVD here!
How to Have The Best Day of Your Life
Today is going to be the best day of my life is one of my personal mantas, so you can imagine my delight when one of my yogini friends wrote a book with that title! In The Best Day of Your Life, Jennifer White, a fellow yoga teacher has penned a straight forward guide on how to have truly awesome days. In the 35 short chapters she provides great advice on topics like how to let things go, deal with jerks, become your own hero, deal with anger, and even how to own your inner bitch.
I’ve got this book on my night stand and I read it for inspiration. I love Jennifer’s no nonsense approach to the topics and the tools she provides to help tackle them. This is a great book for yoga teachers, and I’m sure it is going to inspire a yoga class theme or two in my future.
Woo hoo Jennifer – congratulations on getting your first book in print, and I’m sure there will be more to come! You can pick up your own copy of this book on Amazon.
The KIND MAT
It’s time to feel the yoga, not the floor, with a Kind Mat from VerniceVita. The yoga mat of all mats, which offers great grip with its a non-slip surface, is loaded with the comfort of memory foam to embrace every part of your asana practice. I started using my Kind Mat three years ago, and now my knees, wrists, and joints won’t let me practice on any other mat.
Stop the painful yoga routine associated with thin rubber mats and bring a new level of enjoyment and comfort to your yoga practice. Read my review of these mats, and then purchase your very own Vernice Vita right here on the Daily Downward Dog with a special $10 discount offer. Or, use code MARIA10 to save $10 at thekindmat.com.
The Kind Mat is the genius idea of Racheal Ennis, who I have the distinct pleasure of working with!
Hang Out at The Beach With Goddesses
Once the holidays are over, don’t let yourself settle into a funk. Kick the New Year off by giving yourself the gift of a yoga retreat. We’ll be setting intentions and saluting the sun each morning on my Beach Yoga Bliss retreat in Aruba in April 2015! The last two years Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa proved to be the perfect place for a beach yoga retreat, so why mess with a good thing? Enjoy seven days of yoga overlooking the crystal blue water and white sand beaches of Aruba from April 11-18, 2015. For more details on this retreat and to book your spot, contact The Travel Yogi, a company that is run by another yogini goddess in my life, Jennifer Hoddevick!
Buy Handmade and Change Women’s Lives
I love gifts that allow you to give in more ways than one. Each time you purchase a gift from Global Goods Partners, you are purchasing a handmade fair-trade product that is improving the economic status of women in marginalized communities around the world. From the comfort of your home, you get to shop for goods from 40 artisan groups from 20 different countries helping to employ over 3,000 women. 
Global Goods Partners has beautiful handmade gifts like these journals (which I gave to the participants in my Beach Yoga Bliss retreat last year) and a wide variety of jewelry, bags, scarves, and accessories. Please check out this site to help improve women’s lives around the world, shop responsibly through their online store, and donate to their fundraising programs.
Happy Holidays from The Daily Downward Dog!
Nov 25, 2014 |
The secret to happiness is doing what you love. The secret to success is loving what you do.
I have to admit that right now, I am REALLY HAPPY! I am absolutely loving what I do and I’m really excited to announce upcoming yoga workshops and new yoga classes that I am blessed to be able to share.
Essential Oils & Yoga Workshop
This Saturday, November 29, I am teaming up with my good friend, Kathleen Merk, to lead an Essential Oils and Yoga Workshop at Yoga Bliss Akron from 1-3 PM. I have been using essential oils like peppermint to relieve my headaches, using a diffuser at night with lavender essential oil to bring me to a peaceful sleep, and rubbing frankincense on my feet before meditation to keep me focused and centered.
The use of essential oils to heal and complement yoga practice is nothing new, in fact, it dates back thousands of years and originated in India with sandalwood and vetiver to aid in developing the mind for meditation, and creating a healthy balance between the mind, body, and spirit.
The essential oils used during this workshop are uplifting yet calming and will remind you of the importance of taking the time to nurture yourself and practice loving kindness. You’ll leave the workshop relaxed, refreshed, and with your very own pack of sample oils and a booklet with tips on how to effectively use each oil for improved physical and emotional health. If you have been curious about the benefits of essential oils, please join me and doTERRA Wellness Advocate Kathleen Merk for this Essential Yoga Workshop. All levels are welcome. Workshop fee is $35.
Register early as space is limited and you can register online through the Yoga Bliss website. If you are interested in this workshop and would like details on how to bring it to your workplace, meeting, or yoga studio, please contact Maria.
Do What You Love and Do it Often!
(this means do YOGA more often!!)
Yoga in Vermilion, Ohio
The winter yoga classes in Vermilion are in full swing, and no, they are not on the beach, but inside in a warm and groovy space in the library of Sailorway Middle School. I’ll be there on select Saturdays in December and New Years Eve and I just announced dates for the January and February classes as well as these special classes and workshops
New Years Eve Yoga & Meditation, December 31 | 3:00 PM
NEW Beginners’ 5-Week Series begins January 3 | 8:15-9:15 AM
Essential Oils & Yoga Workshop on Friday, February 6 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM
The Yoga of Bob Marley, Saturday, January 31 | 6-8 PM
Click here to see the full schedule of class dates in Vermilion.
NEW CLASSES AT YOGA BLISS
I am super excited that the schedule for the Ganesha (non-heated) Studio at Yoga Bliss Akron has expanded with lots of new class offerings every day of the week. I am teaching a few of the new Gentle Flow classes that are now offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:45 AM and a new class on Sunday nights called Sunday Night Stretch and Unwind.
On Sunday nights do you start to get stressed out thinking about the week to come? If this sounds like you, this class will help you unwind, quiet the mind, and relax. I start with a grounded and healing asana practice combined with meditative breathing to help you redirect your prana (energy) and breath into releasing tension and stress from the body. The second portion of class focuses on deeper, restorative stretches and meditation – each week a different and new experience from guided, silent, mantra, yoga nidra, breath work, and moving will be explored. This practice will quiet the mind and prepare you for a restful sleep so you can flow into the coming week with peace, clarity, and inspiration. The Ganesha Studio will be dimly lit and filled with peaceful music. All levels welcome.
I AM LOVE YOGA RETREATS
Don’t tell people your dreams, show them!
I show (and live) my dreams each year when I get to host yoga retreats on the most beautiful beaches in the world. In April of 2015 I will be hosting my 3rd Beach Yoga Bliss retreat in Aruba, and in September I’ll be leading another retreat in Santorini, Greece.
Our mantra each of these weeks will be “I Am Love,” and together we’ll learn how to live that mantra, letting go of fear, stress, or whatever is keeping you from living out your dreams and finding your bliss.
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Oct 24, 2014 |
I had the opportunity this summer to provide yoga assists at one of the coolest yoga events I’ve ever attended. A group called BelieveinCLE was formed in 2013 to bring together yogis throughout northern Ohio in some pretty sweet venues to collectively raise the vibration and LOVE for Cleveland (and yoga). This particular event on Mall B in downtown Cleveland was part of the welcoming kick-off ceremonies for the Gay Games, and there were over 2,000 yogis in attendance for an awesome yoga practice. As the sun set, we witnessed a rainbow of laser lights shining over us and the downtown skyline.
Photo courtesy of Shel Jane Greenberg Ginger*Snapshot Photography
As I walked through the yoga mats offering assists, I noticed a rather large young man dressed in attire looking more ready to step onto a football field than a yoga mat. He was coming into trikonasana rather awkwardly (which I say without judgment, but with a loving heart), so I walked up next to him and offered an assist to bring him into the proper alignment in the pose. As I helped him lift his right arm up, his body flowed into a graceful ease. He enthusiastically thanked me for the assist and proceeded to tell me that this was his very first yoga class. I congratulated him on picking such an opportune first class and assured him that he was doing great and to keep smiling and enjoying himself.
More than midway through the class I saw him again, and from the look on his face I could tell that fatigue was setting in. I caught his eye and gave him a thumbs-up for encouragement, and he nodded back with a smile.
As the class was winding down and the yogis were coming into savasana, I saw the young man and went over to help adjust his shoulders. As I did, I said to him, “Congratulations, you made it through your very first yoga class!” He got a huge grin on his face and said to me, “I think my life has changed tonight!” I started to laugh and teasingly told him to watch out, that yoga can become contagious, and that I could foresee him wanting to practice all the time. He just smiled, nodded his head, and said, “Yeah I think so too.”
YOGA … IT HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM YOU
The power of yoga can change your life! I’ve always known this, but it was a beautiful reminder to see the blissed out faces of so many yogis that night and to hear it confessed so truthfully by someone who probably never imagined he would step on a yoga mat, let alone to end up liking it so much.
Believe me when I tell you the yogis who assembled that night brought
enough wattage to light up the Terminal Tower like this!
I’m sure the incredible yoga class led by Inner Bliss YogaStudio owner, Tammy Lyons and Adam Tilocco, the rockin playlist, and the combined energy and beauty of that night had a lot to do with his life-changing declaration, but you can’t deny that the unifying element is the practice itself. This yoga practice is truly transformational.
Open your hearts yogis. Come to your yoga mats each time like you are a beginner, ready and open to experience, to learn, to breathe, to grow, to be transformed by the power of yoga and let it change your life.
A big glitter hug and Thank You to Shel Jane Greenberg Erba for sharing her lovely photography with me! I highly recommend you take a yoga class with her at One Love Yoga in Kent, Ohio!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
